Mira Minkoba is the Hopebearer. Since the day she was born, she’s been told she’s special. Important. Perfect. She’s known across the Fallen Isles not just for her beauty, but for the Mira Treaty named after her, a peace agreement which united the seven islands against their enemies on the mainland.

But Mira has never felt as perfect as everyone says. She counts compulsively. She struggles with crippling anxiety. And she’s far too interested in dragons for a girl of her station.

After

Then Mira discovers an explosive secret that challenges everything she and the Treaty stand for. Betrayed by the very people she spent her life serving, Mira is sentenced to the Pit–the deadliest prison in the Fallen Isles. There, a cruel guard would do anything to discover the secret she would die to protect.

No longer beholden to those who betrayed her, Mira must learn to survive on her own and unearth the dark truths about the Fallen Isles–and herself–before her very world begins to collapse.

I’m a reader who tends to like most of what I pick up. I’m not terribly picky and even books I don’t completely connect usually have some good moments within their pages as well. I also have this terrible need to know how a plot ends that makes me push through a story despite my feelings for it to find out, a habit I desperately need to break. So needless to say, it’s a rare occasion when I DNF a book.

I decided to set aside Before She Ignites at 20%. Why? Well, it seemed like a start to some sort of world building at the very beginning but before anything was fleshed out the main character was thrown in jail for reasons that were unclear from the point I stopped. And that’s all that really happened during the pages I got through. Jail. I was pretty bored and confused and with having no real knowledge on the world we were thrown into and where it was heading, I didn’t find a desire to continue. Perhaps if I gave it a bit longer? I’m not sure but I didn’t want to force myself through it to find out as I was already struggling with a desire to get as far as I did. I’m super bummed because I was very excited about the diversity and also DRAGONS. Patience may be required for this one and I just didn’t have it. 🙁

About Jodi Meadows

Jodi Meadows lives and writes in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, with her husband, a Kippy*, and an alarming number of ferrets. She is a confessed book addict, and has wanted to be a writer ever since she decided against becoming an astronaut. She is the author of the INCARNATE Trilogy and the ORPHAN QUEEN Duology (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen), and a coauthor of the forthcoming MY LADY JANE (HarperTeen). Visit her at www.jodimeadows.com

11 Responses to “DNF Review: Before She Ignites by Jodi Meadows”

Yeah, this is definitely a book where you need a LOT of patience. I was excited about it too, but it let me down quite a bit. She spends 90% of the time in jail and the dragons hardly ever appear. So I don’t think this is a book that would have gotten better for you. I’m hoping the sequel will be stronger however!Nick recently posted…An Emotional Whirlwind: Play On by Samantha Young

Such a bummer that you didn’t like this one! I haven’t really read any reviews on it but I’ve been super excited to pick up my ARC…but due to the issues you discussed I’m not sure I’m going to enjoy it that much. I was mostly excited for the dragons, to be honest! I hope your next read is better!Kelly @ Here’s to Happy Endings recently posted…Blog Tour: Ban this Book by Alan Gratz – Spotlight and Giveaway!

Hopefully you enjoy it more! There was just a small glimpse of the dragons in what I read and I’ve heard from others they aren’t very prominent in the book, unfortunately. Perhaps in later books in the series though?

I have been struggling so hard, to pick up this book. I have had it for a while but I’m just not excited about like I was months ago. All of the reviews I’ve read have been similar to yours – DNF, or poor rating, and entirely because it is booooring. I don’t mind slow-building series but the first book CANNOT be the slow one. *sigh* I’m sorry you had a hard time with this one, Sara!

I hardly ever DNF a book either because I’m like you and want to push through just to see if it does get better and if the issues I have get worked out. I know a lot of people were really excited about this and I hate you didn’t like it. Honestly, I probably would have given up too. 20% is pretty far to get into a book for there still be nothing really going on, especially in a book that requires some explanations because it’s a fantasy.Christine recently posted…Review: The Grave Keepers by Elizabeth Byrne

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In accordance to the FTC guidelines, I must state that I make no monetary gains from my reviews or endorsements here on Forever 17 Books. All books I review are either bought by myself, won, or received in exchange for an honest review.